South Africa held its first national leg of the SADC Gender Protocol@Work Summit in Johannesburg from the 22nd to the 25th of April 2014. Among the winners was the innovative and ground-breaking MathsGenius Leadership Institute (MGLI) which was represented by its CEO, Edzai Conilias Zvobwo. The talented orator delivered an inspiring presentation on the work MGLI is doing for South African STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) girl learners which left the audience craving for more.
The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development was signed by all South African heads of states, with the exception of Botswana and Mauritius, in 2008. The Protocol on Gender encompasses commitments made in all regional, global and continental instruments for achieving gender equality whilst enhancing these instruments by addressing gaps and setting specific measurable targets where these do not already exist and advancing gender equality by ensuring accountability by all SADC member states, as well as providing a forum for the sharing of best practices, peer support and review.
Annually, Gender Links, the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance, local government associations, and the Gender and Media Diversity Centre host the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Summits to gather evidence of the SADC Gender Protocol@Work with the strap line “50/50 by 2015 and a strong post 2015 agenda”.
Each SADC countries have been hosting national summits as pre-cursors to the regional one but South Africa had never hosted an in-country protocol summit until this year as a result of non-participation from local governments. Government ministries and other organisations involved in women empowerment activities. The inaugural South African event was ground-breaking and saw huge participation from small shelters in rural areas to big municipalities who each took a turn to showcase their work and share best practices with all the delegates.
The summit was well-organised and delegates were motivated to go out and do more for gender equality in their sphere of influence.
The presentations were divided according to themes which cover the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. MathsGenius Leadership Institute won the Education and Training theme amidst strong competition from Mossel Bay municipality. Zvobwo presented on how MGLI is working on demystifying mathematics among the communities through its strategic partnership with SABC Education. During his presentation, he revealed MGLI’s new mathematics intervention programme called The Community-wide Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics Intervention and Support (PSAMIS). This is a revolutionary method that emphasizes on communal learning of mathematics.
With the success of the South African summit, the country is expected to do well at the SADC regional summit to be held from the 26th to the 29th of May 2014 in Johannesburg.
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